Dispensing device



Aug. 18, 1964 M. A. MCCLAIN 3,144,967

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FM 6 INVENTOR.

' MAPS/{All 4. I70. (YA/N 18, 1964 M. A. MCCLAIN 3,144,967

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2'7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. NAPS/Ml! .4. M'. L'M/N United States Patent 3,144,967DEPENSENG DEVL'CE Marshall A. Met/lain, 3161 hi. Gladys 8h,

San Gabriel, Ualif. Filed Jan. 27, 19631, Eier. No. 85,247 7 t'jlaims.(El. 22it lddfi) This invention relates to devices for selectivelydispens ing any one of several liquids or combinations thereof, and moreparticularly to hand held dispensers which are used at bars for suchpurpose.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved dispenser forliquids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a semiportable handcarried dispenser for selectively supplying mix or liquids for drinkingpurposes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a liquiddispenser capable of selectively dispensing any one of three liquidsalone or any one of three other liquids in combination with one of thefirst mentioned liquids.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a unique, compact,mechanical operated hand dispenser which can accommodate and selectivelydispense more different fluids than prior hand dispensers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive,compact hand dispenser for fluids.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent in thedetailed description below in conjunction with the attached drawingswherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section of the dispenser shown in FIGURE 1 takenalong line 2-2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2A is a fragmentary View taken along line 2A-2A in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 33 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional View taken along line 4- in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan view of the head of the dispenser with thecover removed, and;

FIGURE 6 is a partially broken away view of the right side of thedispenser shown in FIGURES 1 through 5.

Embodiments of the present invention are most widely used at commercialbars to enable the bar tender to mix and otherwise dispense more rapidlydrinks to the customers. Therefore, the present invention shall bedescribed in that environment. In addition the particular embodiment ofthe invention shown is presently being sold to a great extent todispense soda water, Coca-Cola, 7-Up, Ginger Ale, plain water, andquinine water. Therefore, in the detailed description below, I willrefer to the different portions of the dispenser with reference to suchfluids in order to facilitate understanding the invention. Naturally theinvention is not limited to the use of such fluids only.

Six flexible liquid conducting tubes lltl, enclosed in a sheath 11,extend from the rear of handle 12 of the dispenser to a remote point(normally below or adjacent the bar) at which is located the supply ofsyrups, soda water, quinine water, and plain Water. These liquids aresupplied under pressure by conventional means which do not comprise partof the invention and therefore are not disclosed or described. Inaddition, as will become apparent in the description below the valves inthe dispenser head are essentially two position, that is on-off valves.Therefore there is usually provided for each tube It) a metering valvewhich controls the flow of liquid when the associated valve in thedispenser is open. However such metering valves are located at thesupply end of the tubes 1d and are also conventional, and therefore arenot shown.

3,144,957 Patented Aug. 18, i964 Before describing in detail themechanism by which the disclosed embodiment of the inventionaccomplishes the purpose of the invention, I will describe the functionof the dispenser illustrated from a broad aspect. At the forward end ofthe handle 12 is located a head generally indicated by the arrow 13.This head comprises a body or housing 14 carrying the various componentsof the device, Which body is partially enclosed by a cover 15. Extendingthrough the top of the cover 15 is a generally rectangular soda buttonlid which when depressed allows the soda water to be dispensed throughthe subject devlce.

Located in front of the soda button 16 are three syrup buttons 1'7, 18,and 19 which, when depressed cause to be dispensed Coca-Cola, GingerAle, and 7-Up respectively. As will become apparent in the descriptionbelow, each of these buttons 17 to 19 is operatively associated withmechanism so that as the particular button is depressed, not only is avalve controlling the flow of syrup opened, but the valve controllingthe flow of soda water is also opened. By this arrangement theparticular syrup is mixed with the soda water as the two liquids aredischarged from the dispenser.

Located on the left side of the head 15 and extending through a suitablehole in left side plate 21 is aleft side button 22. In the embodimentdisclosed the button 22 preferably controls the bow and discharge ofordinary waterfrom the dispensing device while button 24- located on theright side of the head is used for controlling the flow and discharge ofa liquid such as quinine water.

it can be seen how easily the subject dispensing device can be operatedbecause of the compact physical size of the dispenser and the locationof the various control buttons, which compactness and button locationarise from and are made possible by, among other things, the uniqueconstruction of the invention illustrated herein.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 to 5 the particular construction and mode ofoperation will be described. Since the soda Water is discharged eitherby itself or with any of the three syrups control apparatus for thisliquid will be described first.

Located within the dispenser is a sodavalve indicated generally by arrow26. (See ETGURES 2 and 4 in particular.) This soda valve includes,affixed to the rear side of the body 14, a rigid tube 27 to which isattached the particular flexible tube 10 which is connected to thesupply of soda water. From the tube 27 the soda water flows around thevalve 26, through a longitudinal passage 28 in the body 14 and thence"through a vertical outlet passage 29.

Formed within the tube 27 is an annular seat 30 through which extends anactuator rod 31 carrying an (bring gasket 32 which selectively sealsagainstthe seat 3d. As can be seen the pressure of the soda water urgesthe valve 526 closed. However, it has been found desirable to provide alight spring which functions to keep the valve 26 closed when there isno pressure on the upstream side of the valve. To thisend there isprovided a light spring 33 located around the rod 31 and acting againstthe seat 39 and a snap ring 34 located in a suitable recess in the rod31.

An enlarged serrated guide 35 on the rear end of the rod 31 stabilizesthe rod at that end while a spider 36, press fitted into the passage 2%guides the rod 31 at the rods forward end. in FIGURE 2A furtherdetailsof the configuration of the spider 36 may be seen. To facilitate themanufacture of the subject dispenser, the rod 31 terminates a shortdistance within the passage 28 where it abuts the concave rearend of arod 39.

The rod is connected to the rear edge of an oval ring so, which has astub shaft attached to its forward side on which an actuator shaft ll isthreaded. At the rear amass? m is end of the shaft 41 is an Q-ring whichseals against the wall of bore 42 and also tends to support thecombination of the ring 4%, rod 39 and shaft 4-1 in the forward andrearward movement of the combination.

In order to move the shaft 41 rearwardly and thus open the soda valve26, a soda actuator lever 46 is pivoted at 47 and normally abuts theforward end of the shaft 41. As seen from the side, i.e. the aspect ofFIGURE 2, the lever 46 is bent rather similarly to a L. and extendsupwardly in front of body 14 and then rearwardly over the top of thebody 14 to a position below the soda button 16. Accordingly bydepressing the button in the lever 46 is rotated clockwise (as seen inFIGURE 2) moving the shaft 41, ring 4t and rods 39 and 31 to the rightopening the soda valve 26.

Turning my attention now to the syrup valves, located within the boreforming the passage 29 is a member having a plug 50 at its upper endfilling the bore, with a reduced portion 51 depending concentric to thevertical outlet passage 29 to a point which is flush with the bottom ofthe body 14. As will be described in more detail below, the reducedportion 51 has three passages within it through which is discharged anyone of three syrups according to the desire of the operator.

The three syrup valves are substantially identical in construction andmode of operation. Therefore only the center valve actuated by thebutton lb is shown completely and will be described in detail. The othersyrup valves will be described with reference to the center syrup valve.

Referring again to FIGURE 2 in particular, one of the syrup conductingtubes is connected to a passage 53 which opens at its forward end to areduced passage 54 having a vertical outlet passage 55 extendingtherefrom down through the above mentioned reduced portion 51. Thereforethe syrup may flow from tube 10 through passage 53 around a syrup valveindicated generally by the arrow 57 and through passages 54 and 55.

Forming part of syrup valve 57 is a specially shaped bolt 59 carring an'O-ring gasket 58 which seals against the seat formed at the junction ofpassage 53 and 54 when the bolt is moved forward. The shank of the bolt59 extends through the reduced passage 54 and is of smaller diameterthan the last mentioned passage in order that syrup passing by the valve57 can flow through to the outlet passage 55.

The shank of the bolt 59 extends forwardly into an enlarged bore 60 inwhich is disposed a coupling 61 threaded on the forward end of the bolt.Also located in the bore 60 is a spring 62 which performs the dualfunction of biasing the bolt 59 forward to normally close the valve 57,and holding against the rear end of the bore 6t? and O-ring seal 64. Atthe front end of the coupling 61 is an adjustment screw 63 which extendsthrough the properly oriented hole 65 in the soda valve actuator lever46.

In order to move the bolt 59 rearwardly and thus open the syrup valve57, a syrup actuator lever as is also pivoted at 47 and extendsgenerally contiguously with the soda actuator lever 46 to a pointimmediately below the center button 18. (See also FIGURE 5.) With sucharrangement, as the operator pushes downwardly on the button 18 thesyrup actuator lever 66 pushes on the adjustment screw 60 thus openingthe syrup valve 67, and at the same time the actuator lever rotatesclockwise (as seen in FIGURE 2) the soda valve actuator lever 46 thusopening the soda valve 26 as described previously. At this time syrupwould be discharged from the outlet passage 55 while soda water woulddischarge through outlet passage 29.

It should be noted that by adjusting the screw 63 it is possible tocommence the flow of soda water just before commencing the flow of syrupor just after commencing the flow of syrup, or at the same time as theflow of syrup is commenced. Similarly this same adjustment would causethe soda valve 26 to close just before, or

at the same time as, or just after the syrup valve 57 is closed. t ispreferred that the soda valve 26 opened just before and closed justafter the particular syrup valve is opened or closed. Thereby the sodatends to flush off the end of the portion 51 through which the syrupoutlet passages open.

Turning now to the description of the other two syrup valves, asmentioned above they are substantially identical in structure andoperation as the center syrup valve 5'7 just described. Each of thosevalves comprises a bolt 68, the shank of which can be seen in FIGURE 3extending through a reduced bore 69 with sufiicient clearance to allowsyrup supplied from an associated tube 10 to pass as in the case of thecenter reduced bore 54. Each of these bolts 68 also has the adjustmentfeature and spring biasing feature of the center syrup valve.

In order to actuate the left and right syrup valve, each such valve isprovided with an actuator lever 70, which is substantially the sameshape as and Works in substantially the same manner as the actuatorlever 66. The actuator levers 7d are also pivoted at 47. The actuatorlevers 7th do differ from the lever 66 in that they extend further backacross the upper portion of the soda lever 46 than does the lever 66(see FIGURE 5); however this is only so that they extend to a positiondirectly below the buttons 17 and 19 respectively. By that arrangement,either of the syrup valves may be opened by depressing the associatedbutton 17 or 19.

Since the bores 69 are spaced laterally from the center of the outletpassage 2?; transverse bores 71 are provided to allow the syrup to flowto, and thence through, outlet passages 72 in the reduced portion 51.Plugs 73 close the passages 71.

The portion of the illustrated device so far is very similar both infunction and in structure to my earlier dispenser which handled onlythree syrups and soda water. I found that it is very beneficial that thedispensing device also handle ordinary water and a liquid such asquinine water or a flavored liquid such as orange juice therefore by aunique design, I have been able to increase the capacity of my dispenserto six liquids without increasing the size of the dispenser and withoutprohibitive costs.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 6, right side valve indicated generallyby the arrow 74 will be described in detail. Immediately inward of theright side button 24 is located a longitudinal bore '75 which is curvedat its forward end 76 and opens to a cavity 77 in which the button 24 islocated. Adjacent the rear end of the body 14, the bore 75 iscounter-bored at 78 to form a seat at the junction of the bore andcounter-bore. The counterbore 7'8 is threaded and receives a collar 79to which is attached a nipple til which in turn has secured thereto theproper one of the flexible tubes 19.

Forming an important portion of the valve 74 is a mushroom shaped memberd2 which is very similar to a bolt having no threads on its shank, orstem, which extends through the bore 75. This shank is smaller than thebore '75 in order to allow the flow of quinine water or flavored drinkthrough the bore when the valve is open. Therefore, in addition to anO-ring gasket 84 carried by the member 8?. abutting the head thereof forsealing at the above mentioned seat, there is provided an O-ring 8encircling the nember near the front end thereof for sealing and guidingpurposes. Upon inspection of FIG- URE 4, it can be seen that thepressure of the liquid on the upstream side of the valve 7 i urges thevalve closed. However, as in the case of the previously describedvalves, a light spring is used to bias close the valve 74 when tbercisnt any such upstream pressure.

Located within the curved section '76 of the passage 75 are a pluralitysteel balls 86 which are instrumental in opening the valve 7 i. Theseballs as are only slightly smaller than the diameter of the section 76.In addition, the curved section 7a, the member 32, the cavity 77, andthe button 24 are sized and related so that when the memarcane? ber 32is in its forward position (and the valve "id is therefore closed) thebutton is at its outer position with the unnumbered annular flangethereon engaging, or immediately adjacent, the side plate 23.

Therefore, with the above arrangement, when the operator presses thebutton 234%, the balls as, cooperating with the curved section 76convert this lateral motion into longitudinal motion, moving the memberd2 rearwardly opening the valve 74 against the biasing force of thesprin 8S and the pressure of liquid upstream of the valve '74. At thispoint the pressure on the upstream liquid forces the liquid through thenipple and collar 8% and 79 respectively, to the passage '75 and thencethrough a dl agonal passage d8 which opens to the outlet passage 29 nearthe lower end thereof. (See FIGURE 6 in particu lar.)

The associated passages down stream of the left side salve indicatedgenerally by the arrow 9% are slightly different than the right sidevalve '74 just described. However, the remainder of the left side valveis substantially the same. More particularly it has provided alongitudinal bore or passage 93, which receives a mushroom shaped member92 therein carrying an -ring gasket 9d abutting its head, which G-ringseals at the seat formed between the passage 93 and a counter-bore 95 atthe rear end of the passage 93. In the same manner, as the right sidevalve '74, the left side valve 9% is nor sally biased closed by a lightspring )7 acting against the head of the member $2.

150, as in the case of the right side valve '74, the passage 93 iscurved outwardly at its forward end 99 and opens to cavity lltrtl inwhich the left side button 22 is located. Therefore, by means of ballstill, disposed in the curved section 99, lateral motion of the button 22by the operators thumb can move longitudinally the member 92 against thespring 9'"? and the pressure of the water thus opening the valve 99.

With the valve 94 open the water flows past the Cl-ring gasket 94 intothe passage 93 and turns a right angle to flow through a transversepassage 102 into the previously described soda dispensing passages 28and The water is directed into the soda passages 23 and 29 because thepressure is much higher than the pressure to which are subjected thequinine water and/ or the various syrups. (The latter liquids aresupplied at, for example, psi.) And it has been found that by directingthe water as described, it may be discharged at a very high rate withoutexcess splashin it can be seen from the above description that thepresent device overcomes the disadvantages of a dispenser which can onlyaccommodate three flavoring syrups and soda water. If the dispensingdevice cannot accommodate water in addition and also quinine water oranother flavored liquid, a second and/ or a third dispensing nozzle mustbe provided for that purpose, thus complicating and making more timeconsuming the task or" the bar tender. It can also be seen that becauseof the unique construction of the device, the left and right side valvecontrol buttons 22 and 24-, as well as, the syrup and soda valve controlbuttons can be quickly and easily used by the operator.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described indetail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such is byway of illustration only and that numerous changes and modifications maybe made thereto without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. Therefore, it is my intention that this invention be limitedsolely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hand graspable liquid dispensing device:

a head having a plurality of passages formed therein each of which isadapted to receive the end of a separate liquid conducting tube;separate valve located in each of said passages;

a first actuator means operatively associated with one of said valves,said first actuator means including a lever being pivoted to said headfor limited movement between a first postion where the associated valveis closed and a second position where the a sociated valve is open;

a second actuator means operatively associated with a second of saidvalves, said second actuator means including a lever pivoted for limitedmovement between a first position where the associated valve is closedand a second position where the associated valve is open and the leverof the first actuator means to its said second position;

a third actuator means operatively associated with a third one of saidvalves, said third valve including a valve member disposed in itspassage for move ment between a closed position and an open position,said third actuator means including an actuator passage formed in saidhead leading from one end of said member to a side of said head, and aplurality of balls located in said actuator passage and substantiallyfilling said passage, whereby motion of said balls relative to said headis transmitted to said third valve member, said passage and balls beingdispose so that said movement opens said third valve.

2. A hand graspable liquid dispensing device compri ing:

a head having a plurality of passages formed therein,

each of which is adapted to receive the end of a separate liquidconducting tube;

an annular valve seat in a first one of said passages facing upstreamwith respect to the normal iiow of liquid through said passage;

a mushroom shaped valve member having its stem extending through saidannular valve seat and its head on the upstream side of said valve seat;

means resiliently urging said valve member head against said valve seatclosing said valve;

and means for moving said valve member away from said seat to open saidvalve, said means including:

an actuation passage formed in said head extending from the stem end ofsaid valve member parallel to the axis of motion of said member and"then to a position opening through the side of said head;

a plurality of balls substantially filling said actuation passage;

and an actuator accessible from said side 01 the dispenser operatively,abutting said balls, said actuator being disposed in said head formovement between a first position and a second posi tion, which movementis transmitted via said balls to said valve member to open said valve.

3. A dispensing device comprising:

a plurality of generally coextensive flexible liquid conducting tubeseach adapted to be connected at one end to a separate supply source;

a hand graspable dispensing head connected to the other ends of saidtubes, said head having a passage formed therein in communication witheach tube, each of said passages leading to an outlet;

21 first valve located in said head in one of said passages;

21 second valve located in said head in a second one of said passages;

21 separate actuator operatively associated with each of said valves;

means interengaging said actuators whereby actuation of the actuator forsaid second valve actuates the actuator for said first valve;

a "third valve having a movable member located in said head in a thirdone of said passages;

and actuation means operably connected with said third valve for openingsaid third valve independent of said first and second valves, saidactuation means including:

an actuation passage leading from the passage in which said third valveis located to a point at which it opens to a shallow cavity in the sideof said head;

a plurality of balls in said actuation passage substantially filling thepassage between said cavity and the moveable member of said third valve;

and a button disposed in said cavity for limited movement, whereby whenthe button is moved the balls transmit that movement to the moveablemember of said third valve to open said valve.

4. The dispensing device set forth in claim 3 wherein a fourth valve islocated within said head within a fourth one of said passages, saidfourth valve having a moveable member disposed in said passage forlimited movement between a closed position and an open position;

and a second actuation means is provided in operative relation with saidfourth valve member for moving said last mentioned member to said openposition, said last mentioned actuation means including:

an actuation passage extending from the end of said last mentionedmember opposite said open position to a button disposed in said head forlimited movement and being accessible from the exterior of said head;

and a plurality of balls substantially filling said passage, wherebymovement of said button against said balls moves the balls and therebymoves the fourth valve member to said open position.

5. The dispensing device set forth in claim 4 wherein said first andsecond actuators each include a button disposed in said head for limitedmovement, each or" said buttons being exposed to and projecting slightlyabove the top of said head, said button operatively associated with saidthird valve projects slightly outward of the left side of said head, andsaid button operatively associated with said fourth valve projectsslightly outward of the right side of said head.

6. A dispensing device comprising:

a hand graspable head;

a first liquid conducting passage formed therein with a horizontalsection extending from the rear of said head forward, said passagehaving a vertical section from the forward end of said horizontalsection downward to an opening in the bottom side of said head;

first valve means in said first passage at the rear of said horizontalsection; means for actuating said first valve means to selectively opensaid valve means to allow flow therethrough;

means forming a second liquid conducting passage in said head, saidsecond passage extending down through said vertical section of saidfirst passage to said opening, said second passage forming means beingof smaller diameter than said first passage in said vertical section;

second valve means in said second passage;

actuation means in said second passage for selectively opening saidsecond valve means to allow flow therethrough;

means cooperating with said first and second valve actuation meanswhereby actuation of said second valve means actuates said first valvemeans;

a third passage formed in said head, said third passage extending fromthe rear of said head and communicating with said first passage in saidhorizontal section;

and flow control means in said third passage for selectively controllingflow through said third passage, said last mentioned means beingoperable independent of the actuation of said first and second valvemeans, said flow control means including:

a third valve having a movable member located in said head in said thirdpassage;

an actuation means operably associated with said third valve for movingsaid valve member, said actuation means comprising:

an actuation passage formed in said head leading from said movablemember to a point at which said actuation passage opens to a shallowcavity in the side of said head;

a plurality of balls in said actuation passage substantially filling thepassage between said cavity and the moveable member of said third valve;

and a button disposed in said cavity for limited movement, whereby assaid button is moved the balls transmit that movement to the movablemember or" said third valve to open said valve.

7. A liquid dispensing device comprising:

a body having an inlet port and an outlet port therein;

a passage formed in said body communicating said inlet and outlet ports;

valve means in said body for variably restricting flow through saidpassage;

control means for actuating said valve means, said con trol meanscomprising:

an actuation passage formed in said body extend ing from said valvemeans to a point spaced from said valve means;

a plurality of balls substantially filling said actuation passage;

and means located at said point and engaging at least one of said balls,said last mentioned means being mounted for movement, said lastmentioned means being adapted to be moved by an external force, whichmovement is communicated through said balls to said valve means.

Zilk May 19, 1959 Firstenberg May 24, 1960

1. A HAND GRASPABLE LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE: A HEAD HAVING A PLURALITYOF PASSAGES FORMED THEREIN EACH OF WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE ENDOF A SEPARATE LIQUID CONDUCTING TUBE; A SEPARATE VALVE LOCATED IN EACHOF SAID PASSAGES; A FIRST ACTUATOR MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH ONEOF SAID VALVES, SAID FIRST ACTUATOR MEANS INCLUDING A LEVER BEINGPIVOTED TO SAID HEAD FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHERETHE ASSOCIATED VALVE IS CLOSED AND A SECOND POSITION WHERE THEASSOCIATED VALVE IS OPEN; A SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATEDWITH A SECOND OF SAID VALVES, SAID SECOND ACTUATOR MEANS INCLUDING ALEVER PIVOTED FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHERE THEASSOCIATED VALVE IS CLOSED AND A SECOND POSITION WHERE THE ASSOCIATEDVALVE IS OPEN AND THE LEVER OF THE FIRST ACTUATOR MEANS TO ITS SAIDSECOND POSITION; A THIRD ACTUATOR MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH ATHIRD ONE OF SAID VALVES, SAID THIRD VALVE INCLUDING A VALVE MEMBERDISPOSED IN ITS PASSAGE FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION AND ANOPEN POSITION, SAID THIRD ACTUATOR MEANS INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR PASSAGEFORMED IN SAID HEAD LEADING FROM ONE END OF SAID MEMBER TO A SIDE OFSAID HEAD, AND A PLURALITY OF BALLS LOCATED IN SAID ACTUATOR PASSAGE ANDSUBSTANTIALLY FILLING SAID PASSAGE, WHEREBY MOTION OF SAID BALLSRELATIVE TO SAID HEAD IS TRANSMITTED TO SAID THIRD VALVE MEMBER, SAIDPASSAGE AND BALLS BEING DISPOSED SO THAT SAID MOVEMENT OPENS SAID THIRDVALVE.